Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Lydia’

ABSTRACT

A  chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Lydia’ characterized by its medium sized blooms with yellow ray florets and a yellow center, with prolific branching; blooming for a period of 5 weeks.

Latin name of the genus species: Chrysanthemum morifolium L.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘Lydia’ is a product of a breeding and selection program for outdoor potmums (garden mums) which had the objective of creating new chrysanthemumcultivars with a decorative type flower, a natural flowering date latein autumn; blooming for a period of 5 weeks. The new plant of thepresent invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemumplant; ‘Lydia’ is a seedling resulting from a crossing program, set upby a previous breeder, and which records are unknown to the inventor.The new and distinct cultivar was discovered and selected as a floweringplant by Mark Roland Boeder on a cultivated field in Rijsenhout, TheNetherlands in 2001. The first act of asexual production of ‘Lydia’ wasaccomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initialselection in 2001 and propagated further in a controlled environment inRijsenhout, The Netherlands. The new cultivar has been found to retainits distinctive characteristics through successive propagations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum(grown indoor) is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being asnearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 3 shows the various stages of foliage of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanical classificationChrysanthemum morifolium L. The observations and measurements weregathered from plants grown indoor in a greenhouse in Rijsenhout, TheNetherlands; a complete analysis of the performance outdoor has not yetbeen made. After rooting, one cutting was planted in a container of 18cm diameter in week 1 in 2006. Short-day treatment of 11L:13D started inweek 5. Temperature of the greenhouse ranges from 18 to 22° C.; growthretardant alar was supplied at a dose of 1 g/l in week 8. The averageheight of the plants was 18 cm. No tests were done on disease or insectresistance or susceptibility. No tests were done on cold or droughttolerance. This new variety produces medium sized blooms with yellow rayflorets and a yellow center.

From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivarin comparison to ‘Lydia’ is “Cronus” (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,563). When“Cronus” and ‘Lydia’ are being compared the following difference isnoticed: The difference of “Cronus” and ‘Lydia’ are (1) Natural seasonblooming date. (2) Flower type. And (3) Color ray florets. (1) Plants of‘Cronus’ flower in early autumn, while those of ‘Lydia’ in late autumn.(2) Plants of ‘Cronus’ have double type flowerheads, while ‘Lydia’flowers are of single type. (3) The ray florets of ‘Lydia’ are more paleyellow than those of ‘Cronus’.

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics thatdistinguish ‘Lydia’ as a new and distinct variety.

The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, anydiscrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted inthe photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart usedin this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,edition 2001.

TABLE 1 Botanical Description of chrysanthemum plant ‘Lydia’ (when grownindoor) Bud Size Small; cross-section 0.5 cm, height 0.3 cm OutsideColor Green 143A Phyllaries 2 rows, length 7 mm, width 3 mm Phyllaryiesamong disc- Not present florets Bloom Type Single Height 1 cm Size 4 cmPhyllary number 22 Phyllary color Green 138A Phyllary length and width0.3 cm and 0.1 cm Peduncle length 2.5-3 cm Peduncle color Green N138CNumber of blooms per Approx. 10 blooms per branch branch Performance onthe plant 5 weeks Seeds Produced in small quantities, ovate grey- brown199A, 1½ mm in length. Fragrance Typical chrysanthemum, slightly ColorCenter of the flower (disc Immature Green-yellow 1B with a florets)Yellow-green N144C dot Mature Yellow 13A Color of upper surface of theYellow 10A ray-florets Color of the lower surface Yellow 10C of theray-florets Tonality from Distance A garden mum with yellow flowersColor of the ray-florets after Yellow 10B aging of the plant Ray floretsTexture Upper and under side smooth Number 36-38 Cross-section FlatLongitudinal axis of Straight majority Length of corolla tube 0.4 cmRay-floret margin Entire Ray-floret length 3 cm Ray-floret width 0.5 cmRatio length/width High Shape of tip Rounded Disc florets Disc diameter1.5 cm Distribution of disc florets Numerous, clearly visible in allstages Shape Tubular Color Yellow 11D at base Receptacle shape Conicalraised Reproductive Organs Stamen Present in disc florets only Stamencolor Yellow-green 114A Pollen Present Pollen color Yellow 7A StylesThin Style color Yellow 13A Style Length 0.3 cm Stigma colorYellow-green 144A Stigma Width 1 mm Ovaries Enclosed in calyx Plant FormGrown as a spray type potmum, mounded and round Growth habit Sphericalshape Growth rate Vigorous Height 18 cm Width 30 cm Stem Color Green 138A-B Stem Strength Medium Stem Brittleness Not brittle Stem AnthocyaninColoration Absent Internode length 0.5-1.5 cm Length of lateral branchFrom top to bottom 12 cm Lateral branch color Green 138B Lateral branch,attachment Medium strength Branching (average number Prolific with 10breaks after pinching of lateral branches) Flowering response 7 weeksFoliage Leaf color Upper side Yellow-green 147A Lower side Green N138Color midvein Upper side Yellow-green 147D Lower side Yellow-green 148DSize Small; length 6 cm, width 3.5-4 cm Quantity (number per lateral 15branch) Shape Ovate Texture upper side Glabrous Texture under sidePubescent Venation arrangement Palmate Shape of the margin SerratedShape of Base of Sinus Rounded Between Lateral Lobes Margin of SinusBetween Diverging Lateral Lobes Shape of Base Truncate Apex MucronatePetiole length 1.5-2 cm Petiole color Yellow-green 147D

TABLE 2 Differences with the comparison variety Plant characteristic‘Lydia’ ‘Cronus’ Natural season blooming date Late autumn Early autumnFlowerhead type Single Double Color ray-florets (grown indoor) Yellow10A Yellow 12A

1. A new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum plant as described andillustrated.